Driving under the influence is a serious offense and carries with it severe consequences and a social stigma. The governmental data
is staggering. According to statistics provided by the United States government, in 2008, 11,773 individuals lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents in the United States involving a driver with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. Traffic Safety Facts: 2008 Traffic Safety Annual
Assessment - Highlights. NHTSA. DOT HS 811 172 (June 2009) Further, the financial cost in the United States of alcohol-related accidents totals more than $51 billion annually. Blincoe, L, Seay, A,
Zaloshnja, E, Miller, T, Romano, E, Luchter, S, et al. The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2000. Washington (DC): Dept of
Transportation (US), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (2002) The criminal impact is also extreme as 1.4 million
drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics in 2007. Department of Justice (US), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Crime in the United States 2007: Uniform Crime Reports. Washington (DC): FBI (2008) Whether the statistics
accurately convey the dangers of driving under the influence or not, the simple fact is that the problem is significant enough for the
government to dedicate billions of dollars to the study, prevention, and punishment of the crime. Yet, driving under the influence has only been taken seriously for a relatively short period of time.
